Frame for masonry wall openings



Nbv. 18, 1952 m. GATES 2,618,029

FRAME FOR MASONRY WALL OPENINGS Filed Jan. 21, 1950 INVEHTOR, John C. Gaffe?) I Affar'ne Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE John Chandler Gates, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application January 21, 1950, Serial No. 139,798.

This invention involves a window frame for engaging in a preformed wall opening. A primary object is to provide a secure, rigid mounting of the frame in the wall. The invention combines a wall having grooves formed in opposing faces ofthe window opening and yieldable members carried onthe outer sides of the frame to be forced into those wall grooves, whereby the frame will be held against displacement laterally of the wall.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description made in reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a view in fragmentary side elevation of Wall to which the invention is applied;

Figure 2 is a view in section, on an enlarged scale, on the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in fragmentary side elevation of a Wall to which a modified form of the invention is applied; and

Figure 4 is a view in section on the line 4-4 in Figure 3.

The invention may be employed in any form of a masonry wall, such as a brick, stone, poured concrete, or concrete blocks. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the wall illustrated is a concrete block wall and is built up to have the blocks I laidto form a window opening I I to have grooves or channels I2 and I3 in the vertical sides of the opening, the ends of the blocks I0 defining the channels.

To fit within this opening, a collapsible frame, made out of metal or wood, and generally designated by the numeral I4, is formed to have two vertical, fixed, equal length rails I5 and IS; a pair of top legs I! and I8, each hinged respectively to the top ends of the rails l5 and I6 by the hinges l9 and 20, and hinged end to end by one or more hinges 2|; and a pair of bottom legs 23 and 24, each hinged respectively to the lower ends of the rails I5 and I6, by the hinges 25 and 26, and hinged end to end by one or more hinges 21, here shown as two.

This frame I4 is placed within the opening I I in a partially collapsed condition as indicated by the dash lines, Figure 1. The height of the opening II is made to equal the length of the rail 15 or IE plus the thickness of both the top and bottom legs I1 and 23, the legs I8 and 24 being of the same thickness.

From this collapsed condition, the legs I! and I8 are pushed upwardly and the legs 23 and 24 are pushed downwardly to push the side rails I 5 and I6 toward the sides of the opening II.

3 Claims. (01. 20-12). h

On the outer face of each rail I5 and I3, are respectively members 23 and 29 secured thereto in fixed manner, and having rounded flanges 30 and 3 I along their vertical edges.

. 7 These flanges 30 and 3I are generally C-shape in horizontal cross-section, Figure 2. The members 28and 23 are preferably made out of sheetlike elastic metal.

When the top legs I'I, I8 and the bottom legs 23, 2-4 are pushed into their straight line positions, these members 28 and 29 will have been compressibly engaged through their flanges 30 and 31 with the sides at least of the wall channels I2 and I3, Figures 1 and 2. The frame I4 is completed by installing a header 32 against the under sides of the leg-s l1 and I8, to have its ends abut the rails l5 and Is. Also, a sill 33 is placed over the bottom legs 23 and 24 to abut by its ends against the rails I 5 and l 6.

The outer end portions of the legs I1 and I8 overlap, preferably, the top ends of the rails I5 and I6. Likewise, the outer end portions of the bottom legs 23 and 24 overlap the lower ends of the rails I5 and I6. In order to permit the frame I4 to be shifted from its collapsed to its installed condition, the outer ends of the legs II, I8, 23, and 24 are rounded or bevelled as at 34, Figure 1.

Where a poured wall 35 is built, Figures 3 and 4, channels 36 and 31 may be molded in the wall as it is built. A fixed, formed frame 38 may be dropped down from the top of the wall 35 where the opening 39 is formed to be open at the top of the wall, such as in the case of basement windows in the foundation of a frame building.

The frame 38 may be equipped on its outer vertical faces with the members 28 and 29, but may be otherwise, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Here convex members 40 and 4| are secured to the frame 33 to engage within the channels 36 and 37. Obviously, the frame 38, with its holding members 43 and II may be set in the wall 35 as it is poured and left in place.

Thus it is to be seen that I have provided an exceedingly simple structure wherein a wall opening frame may be secured in position in a snug manner not only holding the frame against shifting, but providing a highly effective weather seal between the wall and the frame. While I have herein illustrated and described the invention in the one particular form as now best known to me, it is obvious that structural changes may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to that precise form 3 any more than may be required by the following claims.

I claim:

1. For a masonry wall having an opening therein with opposing channeled faces, a frame to fit snugly in said opening comprising a pair of opposite fixed-length end members for fitting along said faces; members extending outwardly from outer sides of said fixed length members to engage in said channels, and spreader legs intervening in hinged connection with respective ends of said fixed length members, said legs being in two parts, one part hinged end to end with the other; said legs having a combined length equal at least to the distance between. said fixed-length members when bearing against said faces.

2. For a, wall opening having opposing chan-V neled faces, a frame to bound said opening com-. prising two opposite side members each hinged intermediate its ends to have the members bowable one toward the other; two fixed-length end members each engaged at its ends by the respective ends of said side members; and flanges on the outer sides of the end members engageable in said face channels; said side members having lengths which will shift said ends to firmly seat 4 said flanges in said channels upon shifting the side members into straight in-line position.

3. For a wall opening having opposing channeled faces, a frame to bound said opening comprising two opposite side members each hinged intermediate its ends to have the members bowable one toward the other; two fixed-length end members each engaged at its ends by the respective ends of said side members; and flanges on the outer sides of the end members engageable in said face channels; said side members having lengths which will shift said ends to firmly seat said flanges in said channels upon shifting the side members. into straight in-line position; said flanges being yieldingly retractible.

JOHN CHANDLER GATES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,451,012 Ellison Apr, 10, 1923 1,537,318 Lipstreuer May 12, 19.25 2,289,558 Thompson July 14, 1942 

